Broadband class-E outphasing amplifier with asymmetrical shunt tuned switches system and related method

摘要

A method, device and system is disclosed for high efficiency power amplification of a signal over a broad range of output power. Two broad-banded, parallel-tuned class E power amplifiers are combined through a lossless half wave transmission line combiner and configured to operate in an outphased arrangement to permit amplitude modulation. Asymmetrical shunt tuned switches are tuned for efficient amplitude modulation while asymmetrical drain inductors provide enhanced efficiency at outphased conditions over that of a symmetrical circuit. The drain source inductors and transmission components are tuned for maximum efficiency at full power output and for minimum dissipation a zero power output. At zero degrees outphasing, the circuit operates as a conventional Class-E power amplifier. However, at 180 degrees outphasing, each quarterwave line in the combiner reflects back all incident power, permitting the circuit to operate as an unloaded resonant switching circuit.

主权项

1. A method for amplitude modification of a signal, comprising:
receiving an input signal; configuring a first power amplifier to operate at a first drive phase; configuring a second power amplifier to operate at a second drive phase; combining the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier with a lossless half-wave transmission line combiner, the lossless half-wave transmission line combiner including at least one quarterwave transmission line; coupling asymmetrical drain inductors to each of the power amplifiers, the asymmetrical drain inductor tuned to:
1) maximize efficiency at a high power out setting, and2) minimize dissipation at a low power out setting; outphasing the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier to induce amplitude modulation of the input signal; limiting the outphasing to force the second drive phase to lag the first drive phase, wherein at 180 degrees of outphasing, each quarterwave transmission line in the combiner reflects all incident power; filtering the amplitude modulated signal; and transmitting the amplitude modulated signal.